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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Emotional Affair? What to do?

120 replies

mrneedyone · 27/01/2014 17:53

My wife began seeing her personal trainer outside the gym. I cheated on her almost 4 years ago. I say this just to put this in perspective. She sometimes still have emotional setbacks because of my unfaithfullness. My situation was not the norm though. I was out of the country on military duty (reserve). I was called home because my mother was deathly ill...long story short, my mother died. I had to preach her funeral because I could give no other man that honor...this cause me to repress all my emotions. Afterward I couldn't face the world so i returned to my military duty. I broke down while there, and what I now see as an emotional affair came full bloom during my grieving and I found myself in a position conducive to sex while I was weak and that's exactly what happened. I left the country, but continued the emotinal affair, waiting for it to die because i didn't want to keep her hanging on to false hopes. We chatted on FB periodically and yahoo messenger. My wife found the communication on my phone and I was completely exposed.

So, she still hurt sometimes. Since then I've completely regained her trust (I think) and her forgiveness. Yet, in a moment of sadness she allowed herself to be comforted by her personal trainer. This friendship, somehow found its way outside of the gym. I knew nothing about it until i began to smell smoke on her. Finally after i questioned her on the smoke, she admitted that she's been spending time with him, that he's her friend, that she has been in his apartment alone with him, that she has spent the many times she was late returning from the gym at his apartment with him and his girlfriend or him alone, in spite of my difiance, she insists on maintaining and nourishing this relationship. She tries to justify it and rationalize it based on my physical affair and my ministry to a suicidal teen who would call me openly and who i hid no communication from her initially. However when the kid became suicidal again, I began allowing short calls during the time i was home and i spoke with her in my wife's presence.

Each time i confront my wife on her behavior she tries to rationalize and explain it away. She has spent one ENTIRE day (dawn to dusk) at his apartment with him and his girlfriend drinking without so much as telling me where she was until she had been gone 7hrs. The next Sat, she left at 8:30ish pm and returned about 4am, again, not asking, consulting, advising in the least. She has done a photo shoot of him alone in a location they hiked to, yes-without asking me if it was ok...just telling me that she was going to do it (never showed me the photos). Last night she left angry because one of my former students texted me commenting on Turabian format...this student has aroused my wife's suspicion simply because she's female and has asked for my guidance, not because i've done anything or have spent any quality time with her. I didn't reply to the text and I told my wife what the text was and who it was from.

She took that as an opportunity to leave and she didn't return until after 4am. Again, she admits being over to HIS apartment.

I need to know if I'm crazy? She doesn't want to do any form of counseling...says that she loves him as a friend but is not in love with him. I read her texts (she allowed, but said she would never do it again and refuses to grant me access to any of her media) in one of the texts he called her luv. She defends him, but gives me hell, and say that I'm giving her hell, because I want to know what's going on.

after many argumental requests. She's never told me where he lives nor has she given me his phone number and I 've requested them all. Am I crazy or is this a very far gone emotional affair.

I've told her to end it and that i don't want him in our lives. I've told her that as her husband i have a right to put boundaries in her relationship with other men...she disagrees. Says she's grown and won't be controlled and can pick her own friends. I don't want to leave my wife and I truly don't know what to do. I've requested all access to her media, and i've insisted on therapy...even if it's just us using a program i downloaded from marriage busters, all with resistance. Please help.

OP posts:
capsium · 27/01/2014 20:32

And stop focussing on finding evidence for an emotional affair. It is a waste of time, you are obsessing.

UptheChimney · 27/01/2014 20:34

But I do have a right to say what hurts and expect the one who loves me to react accordingly

Well, your posturing is hollow given the justification you give for breaking your marriage vows. and minimising your complete lack of respect for your wife.

Because of course, you were just forced into shagging a woman who wasn't your wife.

Coldlightofday · 27/01/2014 20:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mrneedyone · 27/01/2014 20:35

Quinteszilla,

I'm in the Gospel ministry of our local church, but i'm not the Pastor and my level of participation in not any greater than the average Sunday School Teacher. At the time I was an Instructor in the Security Police Acadamy for the USAF. I'm honest with myself. Nothing is going on with me. My wife has no questions as to my fidelity. You should ask instead of assume that I'm over committed. I haven't participated in the Ministry for years and I haven't been an instructor since 2008. I'm a father and husband who comb his daughter's hair, wash clothes, clean the house, cook for my wife as well as do her hair and nails, my wife is distancing herself because she enjoys the company of another man. Simple as that. I love her and I know she loves me.

OP posts:
JonSnowKnowsNothing · 27/01/2014 20:36

She went hiking without asking your permission?! Shock
I'd LTB

MeepMeepVrooooom · 27/01/2014 20:36

And stop focussing on finding evidence for an emotional affair. It is a waste of time, you are obsessing.

^^ This 100%. If you let this consume you then it will make it very difficult to sort things with your wife. You haven't given any specific examples that make it sound like an EA over a genuine friendship with both PT and his fiance.

mrneedyone · 27/01/2014 20:37

UpTheanty--Don't hate! Glad you saw the light!

OP posts:
mrneedyone · 27/01/2014 20:40

Capsium,

Again, you're right. I am obsessing. It's hard to stop; I don't know if you guys understand that, but I'm working on that. But I'm not perfect...I'm just a man. I'm not going to give up on myself or my relationship. Thanks for shining the light with thoughtfulnesss

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 27/01/2014 20:40

OP it sounds like you want it to be an emotional affair. That way, she is to blame, your guilt disappears and everything is great. If she is just lonely, finds it hard to trust you, is making a life for herself... that sucks for you, right?

mrneedyone · 27/01/2014 20:41

No justification. I was wrong, never said I wasn't. I'm glad for my sake that my wife knows that I regret my actions regardless of the circumstances.

OP posts:
Coldlightofday · 27/01/2014 20:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mrneedyone · 27/01/2014 20:45

MrsTerryPratchett,
Yes, sucks for me. Good luck in life.

OP posts:
UptheChimney · 27/01/2014 20:47

you entirely minimise your actual affair and take little responsibility for it

^ This ^^

capsium · 27/01/2014 20:50

The way you stop obsessing is by distracting yourself with something useful, enjoyable and rewarding.

Going on your past though make sure this does not involve getting to close to another woman.

Uptheanty · 27/01/2014 20:52

mrneedyone

You are exactly the kind of man that women on these threads are trying to deal with everyday.

You will not illicit any sympathy or concern from me.

I think you are a grade one dick.

mrneedyone · 27/01/2014 20:55

MeepMeepVrooooom,
Just know, I gave you all a blurb...literally a blade of grass in the yard of my life for the past 6 months. There are many signs of an EA depends on which PSY,PHD or expert you're consulting. This site, Mumsnet says:
Warning signs that your partner may be having an emotional affair

1.They withdraw from you, subtly.
2.They seem to be thinking about their friend a lot, and spend more time talking to him/her than to you - in the early days, they might even crop up in conversation quite a lot. (most of the evenings)
3.They says things like, "You really don't understand me at all"; subtext, "Only my friend can really understand me". (everytime we argue, which has been too much lately)
4.You seem to have less time on your own together than in the past. (because of kids we only have lunch and bedtime, but now she spends lunch with him and i've been going to bed more and more alone lately)
5.They're coming home later than usual after work, and may be spending a lot of time on their phone, calling or texting. (increase from rarely to constant)
6.You discover that your partner has spent a significant amount of time with this friend that they haven't told you about. (already mentioned)

But you're right about your statement "This 100%. If you let this consume you then it will make it very difficult to sort things with your wife". This is helpful. This is what I posted for. Thank you.

OP posts:
mrneedyone · 27/01/2014 20:58

Uptheanty,
You really shouldn't speak for all women on this post. I'm not seeking simpathy, Can't you see, I got enough of that for myself? I just don't have patience for unhealthy replies, that's why you're tiffed, because I replied to you with your very candor. I do wish you a good life though. Everybody deserves that.

OP posts:
capsium · 27/01/2014 20:58

Look people do thoughtless, unkind things all the time.

If you want to move on you have to forgive and to some extent forget, at least put to the back of your mind.

Do not let this suspicion be the focus for your thoughts. Instead of writing a ticklist of suspicion write a list of what you love about your wife. Focus on that each day.

Chippednailvarnish · 27/01/2014 20:59

There's something about your posting style that makes me cringe, I can't quite put my finger on what it is...

Maybe someone more articulate will be along shortly to explain it.

Uptheanty · 27/01/2014 21:00

Mehh.....Biscuit

capsium · 27/01/2014 21:01

m.youtube.com/watch?v=UIXs66BPooY

Song for you. Think on this.

Chippednailvarnish · 27/01/2014 21:01

grade one dick

Thanks up, you've hit the nail on the head.

mrneedyone · 27/01/2014 21:03

No justification. I was wrong. Completely. Nothing I did was justified. I hate what I did and myself for doing it.

This, my wife has full assurance of. So I won't try to prove it to this forum. Your observations with the information you have are valid and accurate (based on the inforamtion you have).

OP posts:
ComposHat · 27/01/2014 21:06

I've read this post.

The original poster is a self righteous twat and I hope his wife is humping a rugby league front row.

I an now off to put myself in a position conducive to a shite, by going off for to the bog.

Cherriesarered · 27/01/2014 21:09

You had an affair. Your wife is having an affair! I know you want it to be emotional affair but really, 4am?

It is only fair. You had one! It's her turn now!